Millennium Magazine_6th Ed

312 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine I n the fourth grade, Dr. George Elder Watson III collected wildflowers for a school competition; this seemingly simple activity prompted his initial interest in ornithology, also known as the scientific study of birds. Moving onto his undergraduate studies at Yale University, Dr. Watson majored in ancient Greek language while simultaneously pursuing biology courses. Invited to collect birds for a museum in Greece soon thereafter, he studies at the American School for Classical Studies in Athens before returning to Yale University and obtaining an MS and PhD in 1961 and 1964, respectively. Dr. Watson’s first professional role following his graduate studies was as an assistant curator at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., beginning in 1962. Specializing in the Museum of National History, hemoved onto associate curator in 1964 and curator of birds in 1966, remaining in that role for the following 19 years. During his time spent in this position, Dr. Watson chaired the Department of Vertebrate Zoology from 1967 to 1972. He retired from the Smithsonian in 1985; however, he continues to serve as an ornithological consultant to the present day. Dr. Watson has traveled extensively, particularly to Greece, Turkey and Cuba, where he made discoveries and collections. Boasting a specialty in oceanic birds, he has contributed articles to Encyclopedia Britannica, as well as other professional publications within his field. In 1966, he authored “Birds of the Tropical Atlantic Ocean,” and went on to write “Birds of the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic” in 1975 and co- author “Birds of the World, Volume 11” in 1986. First contributing to “Preliminary Field Guide to the Birds of the Indian Ocean” in 1963, he is proudest of his undergraduate term paper on the nomenclature of bird mulching. Dr. Watson is a fellow and past vice president of the American Ornithologist’s Union, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, former president of the Washington Biologists Field Club and emeritus member of the committee on research and exploration of the National Geographic Society. GEORGE ELDER WATSON III ORNITHOLOGIST Washington, DC SCIENCES, PHARMACEUTICALS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY